scholarly journals Predator size-prey size relationships of marine fish predators: interspecific variation and effects of ontogeny and body size on trophic-niche breadth

2000 ◽  
Vol 208 ◽  
pp. 229-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
FS Scharf ◽  
F Juanes ◽  
RA Rountree
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Marine Fish ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Predator Size ◽  
Fish Predators

A length-based approach to predator–prey relationships in marine predators

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 677-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Juanes
Keyword(s):  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Critical Feature ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Marine Predators ◽  
Prey Mass ◽  
Aquatic Predators ◽  
Prey Length

Body size is a critical feature of the ecology of most organisms and has been used to describe and understand predator–prey interactions in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Most previous studies have used prey mass to examine the relationships between predator size and prey size; however, using prey lengths may provide a different perspective, particularly for gape-limited fishes. Using a large database of predator and prey lengths for marine aquatic predators, I found the expected positive wedge-shaped relationship between predator length and prey length and a negative converging relationship between relative prey length (prey–predator length ratio = a measure of trophic niche breadth) and predator length. Distinct patterns in the size scaling of this measure of trophic niche breadth were identified using quantile regression: converging relationships were common among adults but absent among larvae. This difference suggests contrasting ontogenetic foraging opportunities between adults and larvae: a lack of large relative prey sizes for the largest adult predators, and a greater ability of larvae to include larger prey items in their diet as they grow.

The allometry of cannibalism in piscivorous fishes

2003 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 594-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Juanes
Keyword(s):  
Upper Bound ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Predator Size ◽  
Large Databases ◽  
Widespread Phenomenon ◽  
Large Predators

Cannibalism is a widespread phenomenon that can have strong population and community effects. In this study, I compare the prey size – predator size relationships of diets with and without cannibalized prey for four piscivorous species and five populations that are commonly cannibalistic and where large databases exist. I then examine the resultant trophic niche breadths (range of relative prey size consumed) to quantify whether inclusion of cannibalized prey in the diet slows down the decline in trophic niche breadth that many large predators exhibit as they grow. When comparing diets including cannibalized prey with those without, consistent differences were found among all predator species. In all cases, the slope of the upper bound of the predator size – prey size scatters was larger for cannibal predators compared with noncannibals, suggesting selectivity for larger cannibal prey, which may be driven by higher rates of size-dependent capture success with familiar prey. The slopes of the upper bounds of the cannibal relative prey size vs. predator size scatter also tended to be larger than the upper-bound slopes for diets without conspecific prey. Finally, for all species, mean trophic breadth of diets including cannibalized prey were larger than those not including cannibal prey, suggesting that relatively large prey sizes may always be available for cannibals.

The ontogeny of piscivory and its ecological consequences

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 1454-1465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary G Mittelbach ◽  
Lennart Persson
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
First Year ◽  
Ecological Consequences ◽  
Ecological Information ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
Similar Body ◽  
Size At Age ◽  
First Year Of Life

In this study, we review the wealth of ecological information available for 27 species of freshwater piscivores from Europe and North America and examine the factors that determine variation in the diet ontogeny of piscivores and consider some of the ecological consequences of this variation. Focusing on interspecific variation, we found that species that were born larger and had larger mouth gapes became piscivorous at younger ages and at smaller sizes. However, there was no relationship between time of spawning (measured by average spawning temperature) and size at age 1 or size when becoming piscivorous. Species that became piscivorous at smaller sizes were also larger by age 1, and size differences expressed by piscivores in their first year of life tended to carry over to later ages. Not surprisingly, maximum and mean prey size eaten increased with predator size in all species. However, while piscivore species differed in morphologies and feeding efficiencies, prey sizes in the diets were remarkable similar for piscivores of similar body length. These data suggest that most of the variation found in the sizes of prey eaten by piscivores is due to differences in piscivore body size.

scholarly journals Temporal shifts in intraspecific and interspecific diet variation: effects of predator body size and identity across seasons in a stream community

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Landon P. Falke ◽  
Jeremy S. Henderson ◽  
Mark Novak ◽  
Daniel L. Preston
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Foraging Mode ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Diet Variation ◽  
Dietary Niche

AbstractIntraspecific variation is increasingly recognized as an important factor in ecological interactions, sometimes exceeding the role of interspecific variation. Few studies, however, have examined how intra-versus interspecific variation affect trophic interactions over time within a seasonally dynamic food web. We collected stomach contents from 2028 reticulate sculpin (Cottus perplexus), 479 cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii), and 107 Pacific giant salamanders (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) in western Oregon streams and compared diets among predator species and size classes over three seasons. Predator body size and species identity both showed strong effects on dietary niche breadth, proportional prey composition, and prey size, with seasonal variation in the relative magnitudes of intraspecific and interspecific diet variation. Size-associated diet variation was high in summer and fall but was heavily outweighed by species-associated diet variation in spring. This pattern was driven primarily by a 50-fold increase in the consumption of terrestrial thrips (Order: Thysanoptera) by cutthroat trout in spring compared to summer and fall. Mean dietary niche breadth generally increased with body size and was roughly half as wide in sculpin as in trout and was intermediate in salamanders. Predator-specific responses to the seasonality of terrestrial prey availability were associated with interspecific differences in foraging mode (e.g., benthic vs drift-feeding) and contributed to temporal variation in the roles of predator size and identity in trophic niche differentiation. Our results thereby demonstrate that intraspecific and interspecific diet variation can exhibit strong seasonality in stream predators, emphasizing the dynamic nature of food webs and the need to incorporate sampling over relevant temporal scales in efforts to understand species interactions.

scholarly journals Predator–prey body size relationships when predators can consume prey larger than themselves

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 20121193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takefumi Nakazawa ◽  
Shin-ya Ohba ◽  
Masayuki Ushio
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
The Other ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Fish Predators ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Prey Mass

As predator–prey interactions are inherently size-dependent, predator and prey body sizes are key to understanding their feeding relationships. To describe predator–prey size relationships (PPSRs) when predators can consume prey larger than themselves, we conducted field observations targeting three aquatic hemipteran bugs, and assessed their body masses and those of their prey for each hunting event. The data revealed that their PPSR varied with predator size and species identity, although the use of the averaged sizes masked these effects. Specifically, two predators had slightly decreased predator–prey mass ratios (PPMRs) during growth, whereas the other predator specialized on particular sizes of prey, thereby showing a clear positive size–PPMR relationship. We discussed how these patterns could be different from fish predators swallowing smaller prey whole.

Non-linear relationship between body size of terrestrial carnivores and their trophic niche breadth and overlap

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 36-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
József Lanszki ◽  
Miklós Heltai ◽  
György Kövér ◽  
Andrzej Zalewski
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Non Linear

Isolation, morphometry, and culture of Colurella sp. (Rotifera: Ploimida)

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Petrus P Letsoin ◽  
Henneke Pangkey ◽  
Julius Sampekalo ◽  
Inneke F.M Rumengan ◽  
Stenly Wullur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Marine Fish ◽  
Fish Larvae ◽  
Nannochloropsis Oculata ◽  
Tropical Fish ◽  
Sampling Location ◽  
Larval Rearing ◽  
Brachionus Rotundiformis ◽  
Marine Fish Larvae ◽  
Significant Difference

The rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis (total body length 240.59±10.24 μm, lorica length 175.28±9.18 μm, and lorica width 124.28±7.76μm) is commonly used as starter food in the larval rearing of marine fish. But, larvae of some marine tropical fish species required starter food with body size smaller than B. rotundiformis. The present study was aimed to isolate minute rotifers from nature and to assess the possibility of culturing these rotifers. Sampling of rotifers was conducted in an estuary of Mangket (Kema-Minut), using plankton net (mesh size 40 µm). A trial of culturing the rotifers was conducted at salinities of 10, 20 and 30 ppt by using a microalga, Nannochloropsis oculata. A species of rotifer identified as Colurella sp. (family Lepadellidae) was successfully isolated from the sampling location. Body size of Colurella sp. was extremely small (Total length 123.22±5.45 μm, lorica length 95.96±3.81 μm, and lorica width 53.57±3.11 μm), which were smaller than Brachionus rotundiformis SS-type as a conventional starter food for marine fish larvae.  Results of culturing the minute rotifer Colurella sp. showed that the species grew well at salinities of 10, 20 and 30 ppt with no significant difference among treatments (ANOVA, p>0.05), indicating a potential use of minute rotifer Colurellasp. as starter food for marine fish larvae. Rotifera Branchionus rotundiformis (ukuran tubuh: panjang total 240,59±10,24 μm, panjang lorika 175,28±9,18 μm, dan lebar lorika 124,28±7,76μm) sering digunakan sebagai pakan awal pemeliharaan larva ikan laut. Namun, larva beberapa spesis ikan laut tropis membutuhkan pakan awal berukuran tubuh lebih kecil dari Branchionus rotundiformis. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan minute rotifer dari alam (berukuran tubuh lebih kecil dari B. rotundiformis) dan menguji kemungkinan pemeliharaannya. Sampling rotifer dilakukan di perairan estuari Desa Mangket (Kema-Minut), menggunakan plankton net (ukuran mata jaring 40 µm). Uji coba pemeliharaan dilakukan pada salinitas (10, 20, dan 30 ppt) dengan menggunakan Nannochloropsis oculata. Satu spesies minute rotifer yang teridentifikasi sebagai Colurella sp. (family Lepadellidae) berhasil diisolasi dari lokasi sampling. Colurella sp. memiliki ukuran tubuh sangat kecil (panjang total [PT] 123,22±5,45 µm, panjang lorika [PL] 95,96±3,81 µm, dan lebar lorik [LL] 53,57±3,11 µm) yang mana lebih kecil dari Branchionus rotundiformis tipe-SS sebagai pakan awal larva ikan laut. Hasil uji coba pemeliharaan minute rotifer Colurella sp. menunjukkan bahwa spesis ini dapat tumbuh pada salinitas 10, 20, dan 30 ppt dengan perbedaan kepadatan populasi yang tidak signifikan antar perlakuan (Uji ANOVA, p > 0.05) mengindikasikan potensi pemanfaatan minute rotifer Colurella sp. sebagai pakan awal larva ikan laut.

scholarly journals Diet composition and feeding habits of the eyespot skate, Atlantoraja cyclophora (Elasmobranchii: Arhynchobatidae), off Uruguay and northern Argentina

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago A. Barbini ◽  
Luis O. Lucifora
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
The North ◽  
Multiple Hypothesis ◽  
Modelling Approach

ABSTRACT The eyespot skate, Atlantoraja cyclophora, is an endemic species from the southwestern Atlantic, occurring from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to northern Patagonia, Argentina. The feeding habits of this species, from off Uruguay and north Argentina, were evaluated using a multiple hypothesis modelling approach. In general, the diet was composed mainly of decapod crustaceans, followed by teleost fishes. Molluscs, mysidaceans, amphipods, isopods, lancelets and elasmobranchs were consumed in lower proportion. The consumption of shrimps drecreased with increasing body size of A. cyclophora. On the other hand, the consumption of teleosts increased with body size. Mature individuals preyed more heavily on crabs than immature individuals. Teleosts were consumed more in the south region (34º - 38ºS) and crabs in the north region (38º - 41ºS). Shrimps were eaten more in the warm season than in the cold season. Prey size increased with increasing body size of A. cyclophora , but large individuals also consumed small teleosts and crabs. Atlantoraja cyclophora has demersal-benthic feeding habits, shifts its diet with increasing body size and in response to seasonal and regional changes in prey availability and distribution.

scholarly journals Ecology of colonizing populations of the figfly Zaprionus indianus (Diptera, Drosophilidae) in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil

2005 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma Machado da Silva ◽  
Carina da Conceição Fantinel ◽  
Vera Lucia da Silva Valente ◽  
Vitor Hugo Valiati
Keyword(s):  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
Porto Alegre ◽  
Zaprionus Indianus ◽  
Feeding Sites ◽  
Substrate Choice ◽  
Oviposition Substrate ◽  
Feeding Substrate

Ecological parameters such as trophic niche overlap and niche breadth were computed from the frequency of all drosophilid species collected in 2001 and 2002, in the urban area of Porto Alegre city, Brazil. Independently of place, drosophilids community composition and components breeding or feeding sites, the highest frequencies of Zaprionus indianus (Gupta, 1970) were obtained during seasons with higher average temperatures, especially during summer. From a total of the 19,146 individuals of Z. indianus sampled, 80% were found in this season. The data of trophic niche breadth suggest a higher opportunism of adult flies in feeding substrate use, but the females are still selective in oviposition substrate choice. For the values of niche overlap, only for some species, did we find any correlation between these and species richness and/or number of resources, and the most of the correlation values considering breeding and feeding sites were positive. The colonization of Z. indianus in Porto Alegre could be leading to adjustments in the survival strategies of the resident species, but it is possible that many species have conditions for coexisting with the invader.

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